Dion Waiters returned to Miami from Denver on Saturday after the Heat’s loss to the Nuggets for the birth of his daughter. Dior Raina Waiters was born Sunday morning.

Waiters posted a photo on Instagram to announce the birth of daughter with the caption, “Welcome to this crazy world baby girl.”

When asked for the off-the-court highlight of his summer, Waiters said on media day in September: “I’m about to have a daughter next month. That’s the best thing. My son and my daughter.”

“I just know I’m going to be overprotective,” Waiters said in September of having a daughter. “It is what it is. That was the highlight of the summer, though.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra said the plan is for Waiters to return at some point during the current six-game road trip. After Sunday’s game against the Clippers, the Heat move on to face the Warriors on Monday on the second-night of a back-to-back set.

But there is one incentive for Waiters to make a quick return. $1.1 million of his salary this season is tied to a bonus that kicks in if he plays in more than 70 of Miami’s 82 games, raising his 2017-18 salary from $11 million to $12.1 million.

The Heat started Justise Winslow in place of Waiters against the Clippers. It marks Winslow’s 24th career NBA start, with 15 starts coming last season and eight coming in his rookie season.

In addition, two-way player Derrick Walton Jr. joined the team from Sioux Falls and was listed as active for Sunday’s contest to fill out Miami’s 15-man roster with Waiters out.

Waiters is averaging 15.9 points and 3.5 assists in eight games this season.

[…] World Champions without their starting shooting guard as Waiters returned to Miami on Saturday to witness the birth of his daughter. The team says Waiters will return during this trip, which still has four games remaining, but when […]